News

NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow stressed the crucial role of global partnerships in combating proliferation in an address to the eleventh annual NATO Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Control, Disarmament, and Non-proliferation, in Doha, Qatar on Monday (2 March 2015). Mr. Vershbow warned that this is a “critical time for the security of all our nations”, citing challenges to east and south, including Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine, and instability wracking the Middle East and North Africa. In light of such challenges, Ambassador Vershbow underscored the necessity of multilateral cooperation in fighting WMD proliferation. “National security requires more than just national efforts,” he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Paris to discuss how NATO is adapting to the serious security challenges the Alliance faces both to the east and the south. He thanked France for being "a strong Ally and the heart of a strong NATO."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Allied personnel for their service and for their contribution to NATO operations and missions during his first visit to Allied Joint Force Command Headquarters in Naples on Friday (27 February 2015). “You are helping to keep our Alliance safe, and our world more secure,” he said.

Arriving in Rome at the start of a two day visit to Italy on Thursday (26 February 2015), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underscored that NATO is adapting to “defend all Allies against threats from any direction”, east or south. He added that the Alliance is implementing the biggest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence since the end of the Cold War, in order to respond to emerging challenges, including ISIL and instability in the Middle East and North Africa.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Fatih Birol, Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to NATO on Tuesday (24 February 2015). Dr. Birol has just been named the next Executive Director of IEA.

Representatives of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations visited NATO Headquarters on 19 February 2015 for an exchange of views on the challenges facing peace operations.

Visiting New Zealand on a four-day visit (18-21 February 2015) General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee discussed New Zealand’s increased cooperation with NATO on maritime security, interoperability and its continued commitment to NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces. Speaking with The Honourable Gerry Brownlee, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, General Bartels stated: “New Zealand is a highly valued partner and NATO looks forward to building on this important partnership”.

While visiting Sydney and Canberra on a three day visit 15-18 February 2015, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Knud Bartels thanked Australia for its contributions to NATO-led Operations and Missions and discussed enhanced NATO – Australian military to military cooperation and interoperability. After meeting with Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, Chief of the Australian Defence Force and Mr. Dennis Richardson, the Secretary of Defence of Australia, the Chairman stressed the need “for substantial and practical cooperation, to learn from each other, share best practices and develop common standards because NATO and Australia have a strong partnership and are committed to enhancing their abilities of working together in order to better tackle future global challenges”.

The refusal of the separatists in eastern Ukraine to respect the cease-fire threatens the Minsk agreement, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday (18 February 2015) following talks with Latvian President Bērziņš in Riga. The Secretary General is in Latvia to attend an informal meeting of European Union Defence Ministers.

The June 1989 elections held in Poland are an important historical milestone that helped trigger the end of the Cold War. They were the first in a string of momentous events that signaled the beginning of the end of communist rule, first in Poland and then across Eastern Europe as former Soviet bloc countries each took their first steps toward democratic transition.